Thanks again, everyone for your lovely reviews. I would also like to bring attention to another matter. I DO NOT hate Riku in any way, shape, or form. I just think he would make the perfect antagonist for Roxas since Seifer kinda overused.

So with that stated, on to Chapter 7!

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The sound of many joyful voices rang all over the populous abode. Fine scents of exorbitant, swanky perfumes and colognes wafted thickly through the hearty atmosphere.

All was proceeding swimmingly until a shrill yell of irritation resounded off the walls. Mostly everyone covered their ears, desperately trying to deafen the banging of their eardrums as many just stood there, sighing.

"WHERE'S MY ROXIE?"

The hosts rolled their eyes. So much for everything being perfect ans serene.

The person screaming was none other than Cleo Leona, heir to Miniwa Toy Co. Both families were tied together for strictly business purposes only. Sad news is that Cleo had "fallen in love" with Roxas the first day they were acquainted.

Or so her father stated.

Abruptly halting, Cleo held a hand to her bosom, gasping in need for some much oxygen. She revived herself quickly and readied another screaming fit, but stalled as a gentle, smooth hand found itself on her shoulder.

She about-faced, preparing to lunge at the person who dared stop her quest to find her one and only true love: Roxas.

"How dare you-!" Cleo lowered the accusing index and bent her head in embarrassment and respect. There stood of one the gracious entertainers of the evening.

"Mrs. Nasumi, I-"

The elder woman held up her hand, immediately quieting the teen. Cleo actually half expected Mrs. Nasumi to reprimand her sternly, but no punishment came. Only a smile.

"Come now, Cleo dear. Let us get some fresh air."

Excusing themselves from the celebration, both woman stepped out onto a nearby balcony. The mid-afternoon breeze felt lovely against Cleo's delicate, pale skin.

"Cleo, honey. You know I love a little loudness at parties, but I did not appreciate what you did back there."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Nasumi. I just got so excited to hang out with Roxas-"

"And Sora?"

Cleo smiled on the outside, but sneered on the inside. Sora...A friendly, kind man, but not the smart or commanding Roxas she worshiped..er loved.

"And Sora."

Megumi once again placed a soothing hand over Cleo's bare shoulder.

"I too am sorry. Roxas and Sora won't be attending this evening. They've gone over to Hayner's house for a party with friends. I'm sure you'll still have a good time tonight, Cleo."

The small woman squeezed the girl's shoulder assuringly and disappeared back inside.

Despite the cold temperature surrounding her lithe form, Cleo felt abnormally warm. Scratch that. She felt as if her whole being just shoot into flames. She grasped the stone railing tightly, fearing that if she let go of the cool material; fire would consume her.

'If Roxas was at Hayner's house, that means all of Pisca's friends would be there too for that Pisca party shit thing. Since Namine was one of his buddies; she'd there also with Roxas.'

"No."

If possible, Cleo's fingers clenched harder at the balustrade. She could not let that happen. If Roxas was to be taken away from her...

She shook her head, detaching herself from such disturbing thoughts. She would not let that happen. In fact, she knew the perfect way to stop whatever events might happen up there tonight.

Wiping out her sleek, thin cellular, Cleo speedily scrolled down her contacts. Placing her phone to her ear, she waited for the instant ringing to stop.

"Hello."

"Hey, partner. I've got a job for you."

&&&

"Isn't it quiet up here, Roxas?"

Roxas nodded in agreement, keeping his eyes plastered more carefully on the road as large, heavy snowflakes started to blotch up the window shield.

Getting bored, Sora lowered the window and stuck his head out. Roxas, afraid that Sora might fall out of the speeding automobile, grabbed his brother's jacket and yanked him inside.

"What the hell are you doing, Sora? What if you fell out?"

Sora chuckled. Roxas was always the worry wart when it came to his twin. Many guessed he was probably just frightened at the idea of losing Sora somehow. It was like love birds. If one bird died, the other would soon follow suit without its other half. (1)

"Just taking a deep breath of that cold, mountain air. All that oxygen in the city is way too polluted."

Roxas sighed.

"Well, at least put your seatbelt on, so just in case you do slip."

"Yes, mother."

The blond smiled warmly at his counterpart as the brunette's spiky head vanished beyond the car's interior again. Only Sora could make him ever smile like this. (For now, dear Roxas.)

Soon closely spaced houses darkened out and were replaced with widely stretched out chateaus.

"Hey, Rox. There's the house up ahead!"

The snow flurry had gotten worse the farer they grew away from home. It was a miracle how Sora could still see that far ahead in weather like this.

"It's on the left hand side."

Flicking on his blinker, Roxas made an effort to successfully park in the driveway. A shrieking sound of a car horn forced him to lock in his brakes. Being the courteous gentleman that he is, the blond allowed the alien car to pull in first.

He soon mimicked the action.

"Oi, Roxas! What's the big idea trying to trash my baby?"

Roxas snickered as Sora raced out of the car and ran to the other one to greet Kairi and Namine.

"Oh, geez, Kairi. We're so sorry. If there's any damage we'll gladl-"

Kairi placed a gloved finger to his lips.

"You know, Sora..." The auburn-haired girl leaned forward; her face almost touching Soras'. "You're just to nice sometimes."

Kairi grabbed the blushing brunette's hand and dragged him towards the house. Namine and Roxas stood side by side, smirking and they too began to trek towards the flat.

The silence between had begun to thicken just as the snow around them had too. Clearing her throat, Namine gained Roxas undivided attention.

"About this morning..."

"Yeah?"

"What did you want to say to me before Cleo came over?"

The "couple" now stood at the base of the stoop. Namine with her hands firmly rested on her hips, awaiting an answer. Roxas stood there, rubbing the back of his neck trying to muster up the courage again.

"I...wanted t-to. Umm..."

"Would you spit it out already! I'm freezing my ass off here."

Roxas' chiseled face hardened in anger at being rushed. This was very difficult for him. But Roxas being the intelligent guy that he is, counted to ten. Losing his temper and upsetting Namine wasn't going to get him anywhere.

"I just w-wanted to say I'm s-sorry about the whole spying thing on the camping trip. I was-"

Shimmering blue eyes met his own, making his next comment disperse back into his esophagus.

"I too want to apologize for the way I've been acting. From the first day we meet and all the way to where we stand now. I didn't mean to be a bitch. It's just that nowadays everything seems to set me off."

Namine wanted to shy away from awkwardness, but held her ground and extended her hand out to Roxas.

"So how about we start over again, huh? I'm Namine Yugowa."

Roxas smiled and slipped his hand into hers. At contact, Roxas felt as if he had been electrocuted.

'Hm? That's weird. I wonder if Namine felt that too.'

"Roxas Nasumi."

With a beautiful, new friendship blossoming, both teens came in from the nippy frost. Upon entry, Namine and Roxas stopped in confusion at the scene before them.

Sora and Kairi were flushing hotly. Hayner and Pence made some lecherous comments while Olette and Selphie gushed about how cute Kairi and Sora are together.

"Aww! How adorable!"

"Damn, I wish I had a guy who would kiss me like that."

Before anyone noticed their arrival, Roxas and Namine searched diligently for the offending piece of greenery. Gasping silently, the girl shook the boy and pointed upward.

There sat the lone mistletoe right above them.

Roxas reviewed their options. They couldn't make a break for the living since everyone was blocking the way. Maybe they could sneak back outside again and try the back door instead. He gripped his friend's arm and slowly, very slowly edged their way back out onto the porch.

Hearing a slight rustling of clothes, Selphie turned around and jumped up excitedly.

"Yay! Roxas and Namine are here!" This notion caused everyone to look away from the new couple and grinned evilly at the newcomers. Roxas cursed under his breath.

Too late now to escape.

"Hey, where were you two going in such a hurry?"

Hayner smirked as the others began to gather around him. Half the group looked up at the mistletoe and this, in turn caused Roxas and Namine to gaze up too.

Their mission was a failure. The wax decoration still hung ominously over their heads. They couldn't stop the inevitable situation now.

"Mistletoe, huh?" Stated Olette. She spoke as if she had never seen it before. Roxas knew that was immediate bullshit.

"You two do know what happens when two people stand under one, right?"

Neither answered, fearing the worst, for they knew.

"They kiss."

Both blonds flushed a lovely shade of puce. Namine was beside herself, but she coerced her body to face Roxas.

'Better get this over with now.'

Out of all the women he kissed before, this was probably the second time in his whole life that he was nervous about it. (2)

'Okay, this is no big deal. It's just Namine. All it is a friendly peck on the lips that's all.'

Though Roxas had a hard time convincing himself that it was only just that. He leaned forward; Azure eyes slipping shut as he neared.

'Almost here.'

Finally, contact was made. The spiky-haired blond groped his lips around curiously, somehow feeling disappointed.

'I knew her lips looked soft, but hairy? Disgusting!"

Prying open one eye, he shot back, wiping his mouth. That wasn't Namine kissed..It was someones' hair. Silver hair to be more precise.

While Roxas tried to clean his lips of the taste of shampoo, Riku pulled away Namine, smiling devilishly. The girl was shocked beyond belief.

"R-riku...What a-are you doing here?"

The silver-haired Adonis pretended to look offended at Namine's innocent question.

"I was invited."

"By who?"

"By me."

Surprised, everyone glanced at Kairi as she pulled herself away from Sora's warm embrace.

"I asked Hayner this afternoon if I could invite one more friend. He agreed and I decided to ask Riku to come along since he's new to town. Why not help him get comfortable and have a good time?"

Hayner rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, suddenly remembering their little discussion.

"I did say that, didn't I?" A few moments of silence. "Well, let's get this party started then!"

Some cheers and laughter were heard as Olette ushered the friends into the family room. Namine looked back once at Roxas before she and Riku disappeared around the bend.

Though his face held an apathetic expression, the tall blond fumed on the inside as he slammed the door shut against the raging storm.

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– I can't remember the actual species of bird it involved, but I guess it does make some logical sense.

- I'm guessing Roxas was quite nervous when he got his first kiss. Hell, I would be too.

Alright, people. That's chapter seven for you. Hope to get a lot of reviews and much encouragement from you guys out there! I also can't remember if I already gave Namine a last name, so if I did, please tell me.

Stay tuned.